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Eritrea vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Eritrea has a population of 3.54M (ranked 131/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Eritrea's land area is 46,787 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 96th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Eritrea ranks 179/197 ($2.07B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Eritrea ranks 188/197 ($689), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Eritrea North Korea
Population
3700586
26659144
Population rank 130/197 57/197
GDP
$2.07B
2011
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 179/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$689
2011
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 188/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,742
2011
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$3.54B
2011
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
260.4%
2019
n/a
Government debt per person
$1,182
2011
n/a
Government debt per person rank 136/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,129
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 46,787 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
78.6 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.71
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
19.9 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
74 years
2026

Eritrea and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Eritrea and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Eritrea

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Eritrea North Korea
2024 - $34,943,120,000
2023 - $32,155,360,000
2022 - $28,971,360,000
2021 - $32,301,720,000
2020 - $27,728,240,000
2019 - $28,222,880,000
2018 - $28,536,400,000
2017 - $29,105,440,000
2016 - $28,882,640,000
2015 - $30,723,030,000
2014 - $30,554,460,000
2013 - $30,588,922,000
2012 - $29,890,710,000
2011 $2,065,001,626 $29,005,020,000
2010 $1,589,515,447 $25,995,513,000
2009 $1,856,695,551 $23,356,470,000
2008 $1,380,188,800 -
2007 $1,317,974,491 -
2006 $1,211,161,880 -
2005 $1,098,424,686 -
2004 $1,109,054,005 -
2003 $870,248,268 -
2002 $729,321,680 -
2001 $752,371,689 -
2000 $706,370,816 -
1999 $688,918,537 -
1998 $745,523,117 -
1997 $686,490,090 -
1996 $693,535,954 -
1995 $578,015,625 -
1994 $531,688,312 -
1993 $467,872,715 -
1992 $477,101,652 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1992–2011, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

Eritrea and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Eritrea

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Eritrea North Korea
2024 - $1,319
2023 - $1,217
2022 - $1,100
2021 - $1,231
2020 - $1,061
2019 - $1,084
2018 - $1,100
2017 - $1,127
2016 - $1,124
2015 - $1,201
2014 - $1,201
2013 - $1,208
2012 - $1,186
2011 $689 $1,156
2010 $540 $1,040
2009 $643 $939
2008 $490 -
2007 $480 -
2006 $448 -
2005 $413 -
2004 $427 -
2003 $349 -
2002 $305 -
2001 $325 -
2000 $314 -
1999 $311 -
1998 $342 -
1997 $319 -
1996 $326 -
1995 $285.4 -
1994 $277.8 -
1993 $252.1 -
1992 $265.2 -

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

Eritrea vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Eritrea

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Eritrea North Korea
2026 69.4 74
2025 69.2 73.9
2024 68.9 73.7
2023 68.6 73.6
2022 67.8 73.6
2021 66.9 73.4
2020 67 72.8
2019 67.3 72.9
2018 67 73
2017 66.6 73
2016 66.2 73
2015 65.9 72.8
2014 65.5 72.5
2013 65 71.9
2012 64.7 71.3
2011 64.2 70.8
2010 63.7 70.2
2009 63.2 69.7
2008 62.4 69.3
2007 62 69
2006 61.5 69.1
2005 60.6 69.2
2004 60.1 69.3
2003 59.5 69.4
2002 58.9 60.9
2001 58.4 60.9
2000 56.3 60.9
1999 44.5 60.9
1998 50 60.9
1997 56.2 60.9
1996 55.5 60.8
1995 54.8 60.8
1994 54 70.5
1993 53.2 70.8
1992 52.4 71
1991 50.5 70.7
1990 49.7 70.5
1989 47.8 70.3
1988 48.1 70.1
1987 47.4 69.8
1986 39.5 69.5
1985 38.6 69.2
1984 37.7 68.9
1983 37.2 68.5
1982 44.9 68.1
1981 45 67.7
1980 44.6 67.2
1979 43.8 66.7
1978 43.4 66.3
1977 43 65.8
1976 42.6 65.3
1975 39 64.8
1974 39 64.3
1973 41.1 63.8
1972 40.7 63.3
1971 41.5 62.7
1970 41.2 62
1969 40.8 61.4
1968 40.5 60.8
1967 40.2 60.1
1966 37.6 59.4
1965 39.6 58.8
1964 39.2 58.2
1963 38.8 57.6
1962 38.3 57
1961 37.9 56.4
1960 37.4 55.8
1959 37 55.2
1958 30.9 54.5
1957 30.4 53.7
1956 35.6 52.8
1955 35.2 51.8
1954 34.8 50.6
1953 34.4 40.3
1952 34 32.8
1951 33.6 17.7
1950 33.3 14.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

Eritrea and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Eritrea

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Eritrea North Korea
2024 3,535,603 26,498,823
2023 3,470,390 26,418,204
2022 3,409,447 26,328,845
2021 3,350,183 26,232,534
2020 3,291,271 26,136,312
2019 3,240,194 26,037,632
2018 3,192,760 25,931,147
2017 3,150,347 25,817,709
2016 3,124,698 25,698,326
2015 3,105,546 25,575,350
2014 3,095,173 25,451,262
2013 3,074,360 25,329,451
2012 3,036,988 25,211,728
2011 2,998,485 25,097,874
2010 2,945,186 24,987,258
2009 2,887,885 24,878,332
2008 2,816,327 24,764,618
2007 2,743,222 24,646,383
2006 2,703,502 24,524,507
2005 2,661,215 24,396,433
2004 2,598,284 24,254,943
2003 2,493,903 24,090,380
2002 2,392,978 23,943,973
2001 2,312,079 23,815,358
2000 2,247,031 23,665,910
1999 2,212,780 23,497,599
1998 2,180,419 23,311,564
1997 2,152,135 23,110,830
1996 2,128,464 22,895,746
1995 2,025,267 22,669,304
1994 1,913,915 22,393,975
1993 1,856,006 22,073,352
1992 1,798,748 21,750,911
1991 1,919,571 21,428,638
1990 2,032,737 21,112,137
1989 1,987,017 20,804,367
1988 1,938,255 20,503,161
1987 1,888,669 20,205,483
1986 1,845,164 19,910,855
1985 1,807,816 19,620,388
1984 1,771,730 19,335,043
1983 1,736,160 19,054,034
1982 1,695,461 18,776,357
1981 1,649,939 18,501,295
1980 1,605,797 18,236,786
1979 1,563,332 17,983,470
1978 1,522,378 17,735,995
1977 1,482,565 17,492,798
1976 1,443,807 17,243,450
1975 1,408,210 16,971,055
1974 1,375,688 16,673,121
1973 1,342,669 16,350,367
1972 1,309,235 15,975,069
1971 1,276,154 15,572,457
1970 1,243,453 15,172,775
1969 1,212,005 14,767,615
1968 1,181,737 14,365,596
1967 1,152,339 13,958,350
1966 1,124,957 13,569,094
1965 1,098,335 13,219,369
1964 1,071,287 12,889,770
1963 1,045,092 12,567,057
1962 1,019,788 12,262,882
1961 995,573 11,990,713
1960 972,547 11,722,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Eritrea and North Korea

Fertility rate
Eritrea

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Eritrea North Korea
2023 3.71 1.78
2022 3.79 1.8
2021 3.87 1.81
2020 3.93 1.82
2019 4 1.83
2018 4.06 1.83
2017 4.11 1.85
2016 4.16 1.86
2015 4.22 1.86
2014 4.27 1.87
2013 4.34 1.88
2012 4.41 1.88
2011 4.49 1.88
2010 4.57 1.89
2009 4.66 1.91
2008 4.74 1.97
2007 4.81 1.94
2006 4.88 1.94
2005 4.93 1.87
2004 5.04 1.9
2003 5.14 1.91
2002 5.23 1.92
2001 5.31 1.94
2000 5.4 1.94
1999 5.52 1.97
1998 5.63 1.99
1997 5.74 2.03
1996 5.84 2.09
1995 5.94 2.15
1994 6.01 2.18
1993 6.07 2.22
1992 6.16 2.29
1991 6.24 2.35
1990 6.34 2.39
1989 6.41 2.41
1988 6.47 2.47
1987 6.52 2.53
1986 6.56 2.59
1985 6.59 2.65
1984 6.62 2.71
1983 6.65 2.78
1982 6.63 2.85
1981 6.62 2.92
1980 6.61 2.84
1979 6.62 2.85
1978 6.61 2.79
1977 6.61 2.77
1976 6.6 2.84
1975 6.59 3.05
1974 6.57 3.14
1973 6.55 3.35
1972 6.54 3.89
1971 6.54 3.74
1970 6.54 3.85
1969 6.5 3.86
1968 6.5 3.87
1967 6.5 4.05
1966 6.5 3.71
1965 6.49 3.56
1964 6.49 3.55
1963 6.48 3.63
1962 6.5 3.41
1961 6.47 3.26
1960 6.48 3.57

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

Eritrea and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Eritrea

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Eritrea North Korea
2024 19.9 37.3
2023 19.7 37.1
2022 19.5 36.8
2021 19.3 36.6
2020 19.1 36.4
2019 18.9 36.2
2018 18.7 35.9
2017 18.5 35.7
2016 18.4 35.4
2015 18.4 35.2
2014 18.5 35
2013 18.5 34.7
2012 18.5 34.5
2011 18.5 34.3
2010 18.4 34
2009 18.4 33.7
2008 18.2 33.3
2007 18.1 32.9
2006 18.2 32.5
2005 18.3 32.1
2004 18.3 31.8
2003 18 31.4
2002 17.7 31
2001 17.5 30.5
2000 17.4 30.1
1999 17.5 29.6
1998 17.8 29.2
1997 18 28.8
1996 18.4 28.3
1995 18.1 28
1994 17.6 27.6
1993 17.6 27.2
1992 17.5 26.8
1991 17.6 26.4
1990 17.6 26
1989 17.7 25.6
1988 17.8 25.1
1987 17.9 24.8
1986 17.9 24.5
1985 17.8 24.2
1984 17.8 23.9
1983 17.7 23.5
1982 17.7 23.1
1981 17.7 22.8
1980 17.8 22.5
1979 17.8 22.2
1978 17.8 21.8
1977 17.9 21.4
1976 18 21.1
1975 18.1 20.9
1974 18.2 20.7
1973 18.2 20.7
1972 18.3 20.9
1971 18.5 21.2
1970 18.6 21.4
1969 18.8 21.4
1968 18.9 21.4
1967 18.9 21.4
1966 19 21.3
1965 19 21.2
1964 19 21
1963 19 20.8
1962 18.9 20.6
1961 18.9 20.2
1960 18.8 19.9

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/eritrea/north-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Eritrea North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$1.94B
2011
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
31.3%
2019
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.13%
2006
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
20.9%
2003
n/a
Armed forces personnel
202,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.72%
2019
n/a
Unemployment rate
5.8%
2017
25.6%
2013
Industry, % of GDP
21.8%
2009
n/a
Economic freedom index
39.6
2026
3.1
2026
Total reserves including gold
$192M
2019
n/a
Personal remittances received
$3.28M
2000
n/a
International tourist arrivals
142,000
2016
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
36.8%
2000
n/a

Energy

Eritrea North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
289.5 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.73
2011
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.78 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.22 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
22.4%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
80.7%
2021
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.1%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
34.8%
2004
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
102.4 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
5.79%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
54.4%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Eritrea North Korea
% of world population
0.04%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-6,698
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
34.5%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.4:50.6
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.6 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.17 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
9.53
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
13
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
5
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
14.6
2012
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
37.9
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
49
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
76.6%
2018
100%
2018
English speaking
0%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
20%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Eritrea North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$28.3
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$13.7
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
69.4 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
28.5%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.09
2022
3.63
2017
Age at first childbirth
21.3 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
291
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
35.4
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
4.94%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.4%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
30
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence n/a
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.07 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Eritrea North Korea
% of world land
0.08%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
13,233 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
29,313 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,038 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
9,942 mi
2018
15,879 mi
2006

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2011–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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